You don’t have to like the teams playing in the Super Bowl, but you can always enjoy a great party and great food!

So here are some great recipes that will be sure to please the crowd! Pulled-pork sliders, little barbecue-ish sandwiches with sweet jalapeño-spiked pickles, and a bacon-potato salad. Food that’s as filling as you want it to be, because those games can go on (and on). Plus, a dessert that’s fun and not fussy: ice cream sandwiches — easy to make and even easier to eat.

With a spread like this, I could surely become a football fan.

Is it time for kickoff yet?

PULLED-PORK SLIDERS

Makes 15 to 20 sliders

For the sliders:

1 heaping teaspoon ground mustard

1 heaping teaspoon smoked paprika

2 teaspoons sea salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

2 tablespoons brown sugar

3 ½ pounds pork shoulder

15 to 20 small buns or rolls

For the sauce:

1 cup ketchup

¼ cup apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon mustard powder

1 heaping tablespoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon sea salt

½ teaspoon black pepper

1 large clove garlic, minced

A few dashes Worcestershire sauce

A big pinch cayenne

Mix ground mustard, smoked paprika, salt, pepper and brown sugar in a bowl, then press all over the pork shoulder and place in a glass baking dish. Cover and refrigerate for an hour or two, or overnight.

Heat oven to 300 degrees. Cook pork for 4 to 5 hours, or until the pork is tender and pulls apart easily. While the pork is still warm, shred it with a fork.

Make the barbecue sauce: Put all ingredients in a saucepan and let cook for 10 minutes, stirring until all of the sugar has dissolved. Pour some of the sauce over the shredded pork and toss until well covered.

To serve, fill the slider buns with pork and top with sweet jalapeño-spiked pickles. Serve the rest of the sauce on the side.

Note: If you’ve made this in advance, to reheat the meat, simply place in a glass dish, cover with foil and warm through in a 200-degree oven for 30 minutes or so.

SWEET JALAPEÑO-SPIKED PICKLES

Makes about 18 ounces

1 (16-ounce) jar dill pickle slices, drained

2 heaping tablespoons pickled and chopped jalapeños, with about 1 cup of the juice from the jar

Heat potatoes in a large pot with salted water. When it reaches a boil, turn down heat and let simmer 15 to 20 minutes or just until tender. Roughly smash them, with a hand masher or fork, making sure to leave large pieces.

While the potatoes are cooking, make hard-boiled eggs. Place in saucepan, cover with water and heat. When water reaches a boil, set timer for 10 minutes. When done, rinse eggs in cold water, then peel and chop.

Add chopped egg, bacon and green onions to potatoes.

Whisk together Greek yogurt, mayo and mustard, and fold into the potatoes. Taste for seasonings. Serve warm or cold.

ICE CREAM SANDWICHES

Makes about 25 sandwiches

2 2/3 cups flour

2 cups unsweetened cocoa

4 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 pound (4 sticks) butter, at room temperature

2 cups sugar

1 cup brown sugar

3 eggs

2 pints of your favorite ice cream

Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt, and set aside.

In a stand mixer, cream butter and sugars until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating a minute or so between each addition.

Add flour-cocoa mixture, mixing just until it comes together. Refrigerate dough for 2 hours, or until firm.

Place racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and scoop out 2-inch balls of dough, leaving 3 inches between them. Flatten the dough with your hand so each ball is a ½-inch-thick disc.

Bake both sheets (on top and bottom racks) for 5 minutes, then switch them, making sure to rotate the pans, too. Bake for another 5 to 6 minutes, or until the cookies are slightly cracked on the surface and feel dry and slightly firm in the middle — you’re going for a flat cookie. Cool for a minute on the baking sheet, then transfer to a rack. Let cool completely and store in an airtight container.

To make the sandwiches, let ice cream soften so it will spread easily. Then spread about a scoopful on each cookie and top with another cookie. As you assemble these, put them in a large plastic zip-top bag and place them in the freezer. The ice cream sandwiches need to freeze for at least 2 hours before serving.

Note: You may freeze the cookie dough to make sandwiches later. Simply scoop dough balls and place in a zip-top bag. When you’re ready to bake, let them warm up a bit so you can press down the dough (per instructions).

On another note, if your home is just too small for those Super Bowl parties, call us at the Stacey Feltman Group, we make Realty Dreams a Reality!

Much like the ever-changing Texas weather, the Dallas-Fort Worth and N. Texas residential real estate market is beginning to cool off, with home sales down slightly from last year and prices growing at a somewhat slower pace.

Home sales in North Texas last month were down 13 percent from September 2017, while the average sale price increased approximately 4%.

In June, July and August, traditionally some of the hotter months for home sales, real estate agents sold slightly fewer homes than they did in the summer of 2017, according to the latest data from the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University and North Texas Real Estate Information Systems.

"In general, there is a slowdown, and while short supply remains a major headwind, demand is basically still good", according to James Gaines, chief economist at the Real Estate Center. Paige Shipp, with housing analyst Metro Study noted that the slowdown in home sales comes after a "long period of record sales and huge home price increases in North Texas. Median home resale prices in the area have increased almost 50% in the last five years."

In September there was a 3.3 months' supply of homes on the market, up 6.5% from September 2017, but still considered a "tight market". The average time it took to sell a home was 43 days, up about 5% from September 2017.

In Texas, after the heat of the summer, we look forward to the cool, crisp autumn air. While the warm weather tends to stick around well past the first official day of autumn, we still love to decorate for the season! Autumn is the perfect excuse to redecorate you home! Here are some fall decorating trends for 2018.

Plaid Blankets

Instantly add warmth to any room with a plaid blanket and/or pillows. You can also use in your outdoor spaces on outdoor seating, etc. Have plenty available for your family or guests to use while relaxing. Adding plaid is the most versatile way to decorate for fall!

Who is ready for some football? Football season is upon us and for some this is an exciting time of year! For many, football season means cheering for your favorite team, enjoying the game with friends & family, good food, cooler weather and even attending a live game. The real estate transaction can be a lot like a football game. Successful real estate transactions, like football games, are the product of many players, coaches and other people behind the scenes that play a role in their team’s success.

Team:

In football, there are 2 opposing teams on each side of the field, and on the sidelines are the coaches. In real estate, you have the Buyer team and the Seller team. On the sidelines are the Coaches - the Real Estate Agents.

Real Estate Agent/Coach:

Like many other professions, successful agents in the game are extremely competitive. Even the opposing “Coaches” have the same mission but may employ different methods. The Real Estate Agent/Coach will instruct and motivate their players throughout the game.

Huddle up:

This is what the Real Estate Agent does with their clients during negotiations when figuring out what to offer or counter offer on a home.

Fumble:

A Real Estate Agent will make sure not to "fumble the ball" during the transaction and keep their head in the game on all of the contractual deadlines.

Tackle:

This is what a professional Real Estate Agent does if unexpected situations should arise like appraisal shortages, home inspection conflicts, repair requests or closing delays.

The other team:

This is the Real Estate Agent and his or her Clients on the other side of the field. Just like in football, it is important to play nice and show professionalism throughout the game.

The quarterback:

In football, the QB is not only a key decision maker but has the ability to make timely plays and efficiently manages impromptu adjustments. They have a big responsibility and directly impacts the outcome of each play. In real estate, the Mortgage Lender is the QB- and the MVP of every successful transaction.

Referee:

The Title Company "calls the plays" and makes sure all the facets of the transfer of ownership for both teams is done contractually and legally, that way everyone can make a touchdown at the closing table.

End-Zone Celebration:

What you do when you close your transaction!

Fans:

These are the buyers and sellers. The goal is of any real estate professional is to turn each client into a raving fan that will continue to support their business with referrals of their friends and family.

If you are looking to have a professional team on your side for your real estate needs, contact the Stacey Feltman Group Today!

You may still be wondering if you will still be able to afford the home you’ve always wanted if rates continue to rise. Good news is, rising rates won’t necessarily change your ability to qualify for a mortgage. Lenders are looking at your credit score as well as your debt-to-income ratio. How rates are trending is less likely to have a huge impact than these other two factors, which could be deal breakers.

Some buyers have had to re-evaluate their criteria and revise their search, even looking in different communities, different school district, less square footage or even less bedrooms. Sellers, on the other hand, will more than likely not see multiple offers like before as interest rates rise and home prices may decrease some as we have seen in the past couple of months.

If you are looking to buy a home this year, contact us as soon as possible! We can form a game plan and take action now so you can buy the house you were looking for.

If you are looking to sell a home, you should be aware that buyers may be a little sparse. As stated before, you may not see as many multiple offer situations and your home may sit on the market a little longer. If you are planning on selling, we will need to make sure your home is priced appropriately for what the current market will bear and that your home looks the best it can be.

If you want to know any more about current market trends or what we can do to help you buy or sell a home, please do not hesitate to contact the Stacey Feltman Group today. We would love to chat! Contact us at 214-356-8368.

It is that time of year, soon to be empty nesters are just recovering from the graduation chaos to find themselves in another chaos of getting their child ready to go off to college. Once the chaos calms, it may not take too long to realize how much extra space you have in your home! So what can you do to simplify your life and free ups some space? Here are some downsizing tips to help you navigate through.

Think about your future lifestyle. While your current home may have been perfect for the lifestyle of raising kids, it may not fit your lifestyle as empty nesters. Are you looking for less yard work? Less cleaning? More travel? Extra cash in your pocket? It’s up to you.

Before you are ready to downsize, start decluttering. Very important if you are planning to move to get it done sooner rather than later. You can accumulate so much stuff over the years so getting rid of the stuff you no long want is very time consuming.

Prepare your children. If moving is part of your plan, your college child may have some emotions about you moving out of the home they grew up in. Ask them if there are any things they may want to keep and box it up. Check with other family members to see if there is anything they may want. Ask early before putting items in storage, etc.

Don’t do everything at once. Start with one room at a time. Ask yourself: do you love it? Do you use it? Is it time to let go? Have 3 boxes: Keep, Sell, and Donate.

Snap photos before you let it go. If you have items that have memories attached to it but is impractical to keep it snap a photo of it before you sell or give away.

Ready to make that fresh start? If you have been in your home for a number of years, you may want to sell and cash out. You may want to use your cash to purchase another home that fits your new lifestyle.

If a fresh start is what you are looking for, contact the Stacey Feltman Group of Professional Realtors to help you with every step of the process!

When it comes to real estate, north of Dallas in Collin & Denton Counties, has become the place to be. According to WalletHub’s list of Best Places to be a First Time Homebuyer, Frisco, McKinney & Allen ranked 7, 8, and 16 out of 300 cities across the U.S. They also ranked McKinney as the No. 1 market in the country, with Frisco and Allen following close at No. 2 and No. 8, respectively. Median home prices in Frisco currently stand at $380,000 while McKinney & Allen are both at $330,000, according to Collin County Association of Realtors.

Has the market cooled off? Well there has been recent evidence that things have relaxed just a bit. CCAR reports that houses are staying on the market longer compared to this time last year. Also, the percentage of asking price received is down 1.13 percent. However, the accelerated influx of people moving here with Toyota and other companies opening its doors last year caused a spike. While some of these numbers have changed, our market is still very strong and among the best in the country!

Is it a good time to buy a new home? YES, the sooner the better! With inventory up and slight shift in market, buyers will have more advantage then this time last year. Rates are still mid 4’s depending on the normal credit and down payment factors. 4.75 is definitely still out there too. Rates are on the rise and projected to continue to rise for the foreseeable future. That 400k home at 4.5 will be a lot more expensive at 5.5. Values have finally leveled out but are not expected to go down in our area. We are still priced well below most major cities.

For a complete list of North Texas Counties and their statistics, click on link below.

In America, July 4th is a popular day for parties and celebrations to show their patriotism to their country. Here are some amazing red, white and blue snacks that will have the stamp of approval from those picky eaters, the kids. Better yet, these recipes are so fun the adults will love them too.

Edible Flag

It’s so easy that the kids could even make their own at the party if you need an activity to keep them busy. These flag cookies start with a graham cracker then adds frosting or whipped topping on top. To finish the cookies you’ll add blueberries and strawberries and design your own American flag.

Healthy Red, White, & Blue Yogurt Snacks

Foods that come in bite sizes are great for kids! Many of them tend to be food grazers, eat a bit here and little there and that is why these yogurt bites are a great snack idea for your party.

All you’ll need to make these yogurt bites is vanilla Greek Yogurt (or your favorite yogurt), strawberries and blueberries. Once you have your ingredients it’s as simple as dicing up the fruit, place in a silicone mold and then cover with your favorite yogurt. To set them you’ll want to place them in the freezer for at least 2 hours and then they are ready to enjoy!

Mini Ice Cream Sandwich Pops

These ice cream sandwiches will be the go to for of all the kids at your party but make sure to prepare extra because the adults will want in on the fun too.

They’re so easy to make that you could even the kids can join in on the assembling part. All the ingredients are store-bought so no baking or cooking required. You’ll start with regular sized ice cream sandwiches and then secure them onto a lollipop stick to make the perfect ice cream sandwich pop. For an added touch of the red, white and blue theme roll the ice cream sandwiches in sprinkles.

Firecracker Dogs

July is also National Hot dog month! They are salty and savory and are often a crowd pleaser especially when it comes to the kids. These firecracker dogs start with an ordinary hot dog and are then wrapped in breadstick dough and are baked to a golden perfection. To make them extra festive serve them in a red white and blue decorative bucket and top them off with star-shaped cheese.

Festive Fruit & Brownie Kabobs

Kabobs are not only for the grill, they make great no-grill snacks too. These red white and blue kabobs are perfectly balanced with healthy fruit and sweet delights like brownie bites and marshmallows that the kids will surely gobble up.

All you’ll need to assemble these yummy kabobs is fresh blueberries and strawberries, large marshmallows and brownies of your choice. You could even drizzle them with hot fudge sauce prior to serving for presentation and for added chocolatey flavor.

Happy 4th of July from the Stacey Feltman Group, Ebby Halliday Realtors!

North Texas' attractive quality of life, strong economy and low cost of living ensure the area will continue its rise to prominence among the world's leading metro areas. If you are a home buyer or seller, now is the time to look for professional representation. Engaging an agent is different for everyone, but here are some considerations:

Experience - Look for an agent who is fully involved in a career and the area in which he or she works.

Personality and interests - Do some background work on any potential agent. Bio pages, LinkedIn accounts, social media pages and online reviews can all be helpful, but not having one or the other may not have a direct correlation to how "good" an agent is.

Career - If you're serious about buying or selling a North Texas home, you'll want an agent who's active in the industry full-time.

Education - Knowledge is essential in the competitive North Texas market. Professional education programs at the Ebby Halliday Companies are recognized as among the very best.

The numbers - Don't choose an agent based on a lower commission, or because the agent agrees with you on the listing price of your home; rely instead on the agent's professional expertise and opinion, and the fact he or she will represent your best interest.

Written By: Mary Frances, President & CEO Ebby Halliday Companies

The Stacey Feltman Group of Realtors have a combined over 50 years of experience in the industry. As full time agents and with our love of real estate, we strive to serve our clients with the best service, knowledge and professionalism while staying competitive in the North Texas market. As one of Ebby's companywide top producing groups, we have what it takes to help you and your family find the home of your dreams. As our tagline states, we make realty dreams a reality!

To speak with one of our fabulous agents, you can call us at 214-356-8368. We would love to chat with you!

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'We loved working with Stacey. We live out of town and from our first contact via email and then phone conversations, we immediately connected with Stacey's warm and friendly personality. From the beginning of our search for the home we desired to buy in the Frisco/Plano Texas area, she gave us many choices in our price and area range and helped us narrow the prospects down according to our specific needs. Our needs were not an immediate move to Plano, but a future home for retirement and to be closer to our children. She never pushed us or made us feel pressured to purchase a property. We often times had to see property during holiday visits with our children, thus taking time away from her own family, which she always made time available to us on our visits. Stacy is very knowledgeable about the current market status in the Frisco/Plano area and has wonderful business sense about the real estate market in general. In short, Stacey was a joy to work with and we would highly recommend her!'